Youthere1 News

UPDATE (02/02/25):  Authorities have confirmed that there is an additional death on the ground, bringing the death toll so far to seven (7). The additional death is said to be someone who was in their car when the crash occurred. Authorities also said twenty-two (22) persons on the ground were injured during the crash — five (5) remain hospitalized, three (3) of which are in critical condition. According to reports, a plane has crashed on a street near Roosevelt Mall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a short while ago this evening (Friday 31st January, 2025), engulfing nearby cars and homes in flames. Six (6) people are reported to have been killed, with multiple other injuries on the ground. This comes just days after an American Airlines passenger plane collided midair with an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC,  killing sixty-seven (67) people . The crash this evening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, occurred around 6:30 PM, after a ...

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), a strong, well-formed, high pressure cell, situated to the East of the subtropical North Atlantic, continues to provide the energy over a long and generally straight fetch across the Tropical Atlantic to generate steady, moderate, near-surface to mid-level winds. The dissipating tail-end of a frontal system to the North of the Lesser Antilles is likely to contribute a weak shear-line, varying low-level convergence, and a weak perturbation on Saturday night (1st February, 2025) into Sunday morning, mainly over the Leeward Islands. For this outlook period, the seas in the open waters to the near-East and Northeast of Trinidad and Tobago are expected to be mostly moderate, becoming rough at times as this outlook period progresses. Persons are advised to continue to monitor the sea conditions and always take precautions in marine activities. The near-surface to mid-level winds are expected to continue to be mostly moderate...

The Customs and Excise Division (CED) is informing the public of the temporary suspension of operations at both Port-of-Spain and Pt. Lisas Container Examination Stations. In a Media Release today (Friday 31st January, 2025), the  CED said,  “This suspension is necessary in order to complete ongoing infrastructural works at both stations. In this regard, the CED has taken the necessary action and measures to ensure that throughput of containers, the pace of container examination and the support for the business community will not be adversely affected throughout this time.” The Media Release concluded by saying, “We apologize for any inconvenience caused due to the suspension of services at these locations. Thank you for your continued support.” Please be guided accordingly.

Minister of Finance, the Honourable Colm Imbert, MP, is advising that as of this past Monday (27th January, 2025), the Tax Amnesty had raised $2.38 billion in revenue. In a Media Release today (Friday 31st January, 2025), Minister Imbert notes that, “Compared to previous years, the current Tax Amnesty is now on par with the 2019 Tax Amnesty, which was the most successful Tax Amnesty granted in the history of Trinidad and Tobago in terms of collections. It is now likely that the current 2024/2025 Tax Amnesty will exceed the collections in 2019.” The Finance Minister continued, “Additionally, it is important to note that under the  Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Property Act , which was proclaimed in 2023, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which are not up to date with their tax and National Insurance payments, face significant challenges in participating in procurement proceedings by Ministries, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises. In this regard, section 29(1)(...

UPDATE:  According to reports, the Police Commissioner has fallen ill while in custody. Harewood-Christopher, who was moved from the Police Administration Building, Port-of-Spain, to the St. Clair Police Station last night (Thursday 30th January, 2025), complained of feeling unwell and was taken for treatment at an undisclosed medical facility. The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) has confirmed that Commissioner of Police, Erla Harewood-Christopher, was officially arrested and detained on Thursday (30th January, 2025). The announcement was made by DCP Suzette Martin in a Press Conference held a short while ago this morning (Friday 31st January, 2025). She told the media the investigation is still in progress. The Police Commissioner’s detention came a day after former head of the Strategic Services Agency (SSA), Roger Best, was also arrested and detained. ​Harewood-Christopher, the country’s first female Police Commissioner, spent Thursday night at the St. Clair Police S...

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), we can expect mainly fair, hazy and breezy conditions today (Friday 31st January, 2025), despite a few partly cloudy periods with the brief shower. Some increase in cloudiness is expected tonight, with isolated showers possible in a few areas. The Met Office notes that there is a moderate concentration of Saharan dust in the atmosphere. Persons sensitive to changes to the air quality are advised to exercise caution.  ​ The forecast maximum temperature today will be 31°C at both Piarco in Trinidad and Crown Point in Tobago. Seas are moderate and occasionally rough with waves up to and occasionally in excess of 2.5m in open waters and up to 1.5m and occasionally choppy in sheltered areas. Please continue to pay attention to the latest forecasts, alerts, and information issued by the TTMS.

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is advising customers that  planned maintenance work will affect several areas of Santa Cruz, Tunapuna, Matelot, San Francique, Biche and Point Fortin on Friday (31st January, 2025).  This may result in loss of electricity between the hours of works. According to T&TEC, the affected areas in Santa Cruz, Tunapuna, Matelot, San Francique, Biche and Point Fortin are as follows: SANTA CRUZ (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM)  Along La Sagesse Road, including Heartland Development, Gasparillo Road, El Perico Road and all associated side streets. TUNAPUNA (9:00 AM to 3:00 PM)  From LP #13 Bamboo Trace, including all associated side streets. MATELOT (8:30 AM to 4:00 PM)  From LP #1 on Paria Main Road to LP #57/4 Samuel Street, including Basin Bay Road, Rose Hill, Hosang Street, Martin Claud Street, Santa Cruz Road, Cemetery Street, Andrew Street, Grande Riviere Fishing Depot, Grande Riviere Community Centre, WASA, L'anse ...

Minister of Finance, the Honourable Colm Imbert, MP, is advising that the Government has given the UWI Administration, which is the Employer of the Academic Staff at UWI, and has the responsibility to negotiate collective agreements with the West Indies Group of University Teachers (WIGUT), an improved offer for a wage increase for the 6-year period, August 2014 to July 2020. In a Media Release today (Thursday 30th January, 2025), Minister Imbert said the new offer is an “increase of  6%  for that period and the new offer will cost  $23 million per year  in additional recurrent costs for UWI and result in  backpay of $165 million, all of which the Government has agreed to pay on UWI's behalf. ” More on this as it becomes available.

According to an unconfirmed document from the United States Immi­gration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a branch of ICE that enforces immigration laws, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), a total of 1,197 Trinidad and Tobago nationals are among 1.4 million foreign nationals listed for deportation from the United States. The unconfirmed document, dated 24th November, 2024, has been widely circulated on social media in the past week, following the Inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump on 20th January, 2025. The document, reported on by  Fox News  on 11th December, 2024, states there were 1,445,549 foreign nationals on ICE’s non-­detained docket with final orders of removal. The top four (4) countries with the highest number of nationals listed for deportation are as follows: Honduras - 261,651 Guatemala - 253,413 Mexico - 252,044 El Salvador - 203,822 In the English-speaking Carib­­bean region, Jamaica and Guyana have the highest number of people to be deported. T...

A woman is dead following a shooting incident in Pleasantville, San Fernando, on Wednesday afternoon (29th January, 2025). The deceased has been identified as 39-year-old Chezerae Ramdass, aka ‘Chezzy,’ a saleswoman of Orchid Gardens, Pleasantville. According to reports, relatives were at the apartment they shared with Ramdass, where she operated a mini parlour from her bedroom, when they heard a bell ring around 3:40 PM — indicating a potential customer was in front. Shortly after, however, several loud explosions were heard. Upon checking, relatives found Ramdass slumped on the ground near a window where she would conduct sales. Police and Emergency Health Services were notified. However, she succumbed to her injuries at the scene. ​Crime scene investigators recovered ten  (10) spent shells.     While Police do not have an official motive for her killing, it is suspected to be drug-related based on current intelligence. Investigations are continuing, led by Cpl. Latchma...

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), we can expect m ostly sunny, hazy and windy conditions today (Thursday 30th January, 2025), despite a few partly cloudy spells with brief isolated showers. Tonight will be generally fair and cool. Winds may gust at times, especially near showers.  The Met Office notes that a mild/moderate concentration of Saharan dust is present in the atmosphere. Persons sensitive to these atmospheric changes should take necessary precautions. The forecast maximum temperature today will be 32°C at Piarco in Trinidad and 31°C at Crown Point in Tobago. Seas are moderate and occasionally rough with waves 2m to 2.5m and occasionally up to 3m in open waters and 1m to 1.5m in sheltered areas. Please continue to pay attention to the latest forecasts, alerts, and information issued by the TTMS.

A total of sixty-seven (67) people are feared dead after an American Airlines plane carrying sixty (60) passengers and four (4) crew members collided in midair with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter carrying three (3) people. The horrific crash occurred near Reagan Washington National Airport in Washington, DC, shortly before 9:00 PM EST last night (Wednesday 29th January, 2025). The two (2) aircraft crashed into the Potomac River, where a rescue operation has turned into a major recovery effort, with dozens of bodies pulled from the water so far. American Airlines Flight 5342 was arriving from Wichita, Kansas, parent company American Airlines said. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter involved was carrying three (3) people. American figure skaters, coaches and family members who had been at camp in Wichita were among the passenger jet passengers, according to U.S. Figure Skating. Russian State media confirmed that Russian figure skaters and coac...

Seven (7) suspects were arrested during ongoing State of Emergency Operations, conducted in the Central Division early yesterday morning (Tuesday 28th January, 2025). According to the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), the exercises, co-ordinated by Snr. Supt. Carty, Supt. Gyan and Insp. Petti, were conducted between 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM on Tuesday. The operation also included Officers of the Cunupia Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Central Division Task Force, Area North and the Cunupia Police Station. During the exercises, seven (7) persons, of Cunupia, Morvant and San Juan, were detained in accordance with Section 14 (1) of the Emergency Powers Regulations. The TTPS said special attention was also paid to several motor vehicles, resulting in five (5) Fixed Penalty Notices being issued for various traffic offences.

The Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC) is advising customers that  planned maintenance work will affect several areas of Longdenville, Sangre Grande, Toco, Petit Bourg, Penal and Barrackpore on Thursday (30th January, 2025).  This may result in loss of electricity between the hours of works. According to T&TEC, the affected areas in Longdenville, Sangre Grande, Toco, Petit Bourg, Penal and Barrackpore are as follows: LONGDENVILLE (8:00 AM to 3:00 PM)  From LP #75 along the Edinburgh Road, heading North on the Caparo Brasso Valley Road then South on the junction of Edinburgh Road and Caparo Brasso Valley Road up to LP #138. From the junction of Edinburgh Road and Caparo Brasso Valley Road, heading North onto Apping Street and along the Ravine Sable Road up to LP #29 on Fletcher Road. From the Caparo Brasso Valley Road along Apping Street onto Depot Road, heading East onto Phillip Augustus Road and then onto Lawrence Wong Road and all associated side...

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), there is presently a mild to moderate concentration of Saharan dust in the atmosphere. The dust concentration is expected to rise to mostly moderate by tomorrow (Thursday 30th January, 2025). Further analysis is indicating that there are likely to be increased instances of fluctuations to high concentrations by Friday (31st January, 2025). The Saharan dust over T&T is set to increase over the next few days. Persons who are sensitive to the increase in the dust concentrations are advised to take the necessary precautions. pic.twitter.com/rzNRIMZQNq — Arshad Y. Khan (@youthere1web) January 29, 2025 Persons who are sensitive to the increase in the dust concentrations are advised to take the necessary precautions. Get the latest 5-day weather outlook  here . Please continue to pay attention to the latest forecasts, alerts, and information issued by the TTMS.  

The Ministry of Health said it notes with concern the editorial published in the  Express  newspaper today (Wednesday 29th January, 2025), regarding the drug ‘Ozempic.’ The Ministry said it “wishes to categorically state that there are no bureaucratic delays (‘red tape’) preventing the approval of ‘Ozempic’ or any other drug.” In a Media Release today, the Ministry states that, “The registration of pharmaceutical products in Trinidad and Tobago is governed by the  Food and Drugs Act , Chapter 30:01 and Regulations made thereunder, Division 3-New Drugs, which outlines the requirements to register a drug. This includes the completion and submission of an application form along with technical drug documentation. It must be noted that the onus for submission of an application lies with the Importer/Distributor and not the MOH. Submissions undergo a rigorous screening process to ensure compliance with safety, quality and efficacy standards before any drug is approved for publi...

UPDATE (3:15 PM):   The Met Office has extended its High Winds Alert until 6:00 PM this evening. Currently, brief gusty conditions associated with brisk showers are being experienced and these conditions are expected to continue intermittently over the next several hours, with a high (85%) potential for gusts in excess of 55 Km/h in the vicinity of showers. See original article below: The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS) has issued a  High Winds Alert (Yellow Level) for an hour and fifteen (15) minutes this afternoon (Wednesday 29th January, 2025). The Alert begins at 1:45 PM and will remain in effect until 3:00 PM for Trinidad. According to the Met Office, t here is a  high (70%)   potential   for wind gusts in excess of 55 Km/h associated with brisk showers over the period.  These gusts are expected to first impact the Eastern areas of Trinidad and may gradually weaken as they cross the island. Sea conditions are expected to be additional...

According to the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service (TTMS), today (Wednesday 29th January, 2025) will be partly cloudy to cloudy and breezy at times, with occasional showers and periods of rain. There is the low chance of heavy showers and/or isolated thunderstorms. Settled conditions should persist overnight despite a few showers. The Met Office notes that winds can become gusty in showers. Street flooding can occur in areas under heavy showers/thunderstorms. The forecast maximum temperature today will be 30°C at both Piarco in Trinidad and Crown Point in Tobago.  Seas are moderate with waves up to 2.5m in open waters and 1m to 1.5m and occasionally choppy in sheltered areas. Please continue to pay attention to the latest forecasts, alerts, and information issued by the TTMS.